Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama water level

Name: Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

Lake, Lake Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

Directions

Very low for late October

Surface elevation

221.00ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 21, 2026, 02:15 AM CDT (27 min ago)

Water level: 221.00 ft

History

What this means

At 221.00 ft, Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama is far below normal for late October.

The median for late October is 222.33 ft, based on 7 years of readings, so the lake level is 1.33 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 221.69 ft, a difference of −0.69 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 221.00 ft and 221.63 ft.

Lakes and reservoirs often sit lower in fall after a summer of evaporation and use, and recover with winter rain and spring snowmelt.

Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 222.33 ft1.33 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 221.23 ft – 223.42 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (7 years of records)
Same day last year: 221.69 ft−0.69 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 221.00 ft – 221.63 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 221.02 ft – 225.40 ft

Swimming and boating at Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Low water changes a lake fast for boaters. Some ramps get shorter or close, docks may be moved, and rocks and sandbars that are usually well under the surface come within reach of a prop.

If you swim, pick a spot with an easy way out, and remember that drop-offs move as the level changes.

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

21 Wed 78° 44° – Wind 6 mph

22 Thu 81° 49° – Wind 8 mph

23 Fri 80° 56° – Wind 6 mph

24 Sat 76° 55° – Wind 7 mph

25 Sun 76° 54° – Wind 8 mph

26 Mon 76° 55° – Wind 6 mph

27 Tue 76° 57° – Wind 4 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:00 AM Sunset 06:11 PM Daylight 11 hr, 11 min Waxing gibbous 75%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Black Warrior River below Holt L&d near HoltRiver gauge, Black Warrior River	123.31 ft	Low	−0.05 ft	3.3 mi
Black Warrior River at Holt L&d near HoltRiver gauge, Black Warrior River	186.31 ft	Low	+0.10 ft	3.4 mi
Black Warrior River at NorthportRiver gauge, Black Warrior River	123.46 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	6 mi
Black Warrior River below Oliver L&d near TuscaloosaRiver gauge, Black Warrior River	95.92 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	7 mi
Cribbs Mill Creek at Ww Plant at TuscaloosaRiver gauge, Cribbs Mill Creek	6.7 cfs	Normal	±0	7 mi
North River near SamanthaRiver gauge, North River	1.67 ft	Normal	±0	16 mi
Sipsey River near ElrodRiver gauge, Sipsey River	4.81 ft	Low	−0.04 ft	16 mi
Black Warrior River below Bankhead L&d near BessemerRiver gauge, Black Warrior River	186.53 ft	Normal	+0.12 ft	16 mi

Questions and answers

Is Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama higher than last year?

No, it is 0.69 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 221.69 ft.

What is a normal level for Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama in late October?

The median for late October is 222.33 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 221.23 ft and 223.42 ft, based on 7 years of records.

Is Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama really 221.00 ft deep?

No. 221.00 ft is the height of the water surface above sea level (or the agency's vertical datum), not the depth of the water.

What is the water level of Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 02:15 AM CDT, the surface elevation was 221.00 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.25 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama normal?

Very low for late October. Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:02464800 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 33.26734, -87.50612 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NGVD29
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Surface elevation	221.00 ft	2026-10-21 07:15	Provisional
Water level	221.00 ft	2026-10-21 07:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Lake Tuscaloosa near Tuscaloosa, Alabama (usgs:02464800). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alabama/lake-tuscaloosa-near-tuscaloosa-alabama

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer